If you live outside the capital, it’s quite unlikely that you should know the above-mentioned is the core philosophy of the popular burger chain Byron. Having come a long way since its humble beginnings as a mobile van, Byron Hamburgers is now the proud owner of 37 locations across London and 11 more dotted around the UK.

The newest Byron restaurant at Bristol’s Triangle
The newest Byron restaurant at Bristol’s Triangle // Credit: Dulcie Horn

The most recent restaurant, comfortably nestled at 62 Queens Road on Bristol’s Triangle, opened its doors in the middle of October. When we arrived there at 7pm on a chilly night shortly after, the narrow entryway was still overflowing with customers waiting to be seated, even though the place looked packed. After we were given a table and served complimentary glasses of lemon water, we took to perusing the not-so-extensive food menu, which offers a choice of nine hamburgers – both meat and vegetarian -, six sides, salads and a range of desserts. Here’s what we thought of our meals and the overall dining experience…

Madalina

“I went for The Smoky burger, a meaty fusion of bacon, smoked Cheddar, crispy onions and chili BBQ sauce, with a side of courgette fries. The wait for the food was around 45 minutes, as the place was buzzing with people, but I wasn’t too bothered, as the staff was attentive and the overall atmosphere of the place was nice. As a warning, all Byron burgers are cooked as medium rare, but they do ask customers if this option is suitable for them. Although I usually go for well done, the beef patty was properly cooked, seasoned and well-sized. The courgette fries tasted a bit too oily, especially once they cooled down, but the overall combo worked well. I would definitely go back, yet the price tag is not exactly ‘student budget friendly’.” Meal price: £15.80* (including soft drink).

Byron’s Veggie (front), The Smoky (back), skin-on chips (left) and courgette fries (right) // Credit: Dulcie Horn
Byron’s Veggie (front), The Smoky (back), skin-on chips (left) and courgette fries (right) // Credit: Dulcie Horn

Dulcie

“As a vegetarian I am aware that I am not exactly the target audience for a burger restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Byron not only catered for us veggies with an option on their burger menu, but also with a couple of salad options. I chose the burger, which consisted of a grilled Portobello mushroom, roasted red pepper, goat’s cheese, baby spinach, tomato, red onion and aioli nestled inside a soft bun with a gherkin on the side. The combination was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, even with chips on the side, it definitely wasn’t filling enough and not worth the long wait and £8 price tag. However, I thought the staff were lovely and the rustic, American diner chic feel was charming and sophisticated. I would definitely consider going back to try something else. ”Meal price: £15.45* (including small glass of wine).

* Complimentary dinner by Byron Hamburgers for review purposes.

By Madalina Ciobanu and Dulcie Horn